To the editor,
Re: City action plan calls for no more new natural gas hookups in B.C., April 6.
Although I applaud the city action plan encouraging the province to limit new natural gas connections, I believe it does not go far enough. Some 25 per cent of Nanaimo’s GHG emissions are from buildings using fossil fuel heating systems. If we are to meet our target of 50 per cent reduction by 2030, we need to start reducing natural gas use now. With the annual growth in the city at about two per cent, we will need some 5,000 new units by 2030. If these use natural gas for energy, we will be increasing our emissions, not decreasing them.
Heat pumps are an efficient, cost-effective way to heat a home, and you get cooling as well, with lifetime costs below a natural gas furnace. Putting in natural gas appliances now, then retrofitting later, is a much higher cost.
B.C. is blessed with plenty of power to handle the switch to electric heat. It’s time Nanaimo got on board and implemented legislation already in place in other municipalities to restrict the use of natural gas in new homes.
Brian Short, Nanaimo
LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Target more harmful emissions first
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